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SHOW TIME
By Howard Fergus

The volcano must be family
to some people that I know;
it's as temperamental and dramatic --
always loves to steal the show.
We have come to Christmas morning
without alarm or siren calls,
just a blowing of the nose,
and a clearing of the throat --
Soufriere joining the contagion
of that cold going about.
You are conscious of the poses
of the mountain, like those folks
who cough to draw attention
to their entrance to a room. Invited
or uninvited, Soufriere can spoil a party.

I hope it does not leap up on stage,
give an unforgettable display
as it did in '97 on Boxing Day.
But do not hold your breath -- except for fear
of drizzling ash and catching fever
from Soufriere. With this volcano
nothing's ever over until it is all over.

from Volcano Verses, Peepal Tree, 2003